EUGENE DEBS

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 35, 10 August 1921, Page 14

EUGENE DEBS

, "IF ONLY HE DID NOT SPEAK"

Every reader of the newspapers must at some time or other have had his interest aroused in regard to the personality of Eugene Debs, the Socialist candidate for the American Presidency, who is now serving a sentence in prison under the,drastic Espionage Act that was put into force during the war.

Debs was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, in 1855, and is thus now 65 years of age. Both-his parents were French, from Alsace. He had practically no education, but taught himself oratory by reciting, in private and in public, the principal speeches of Patrick Henry and other patriotic figures. For the last few years he has lived in simple fashion on his lecturing fees and the pay for his newspaper articles; he has never attempted to turn his position to personal profit. He first won recognition in Labour circles by his successful conduct of strikes; his eminent sincerity and selfsacrifice gained him respect from both sides. Then he became a leading figure in Socialist politics, and stood as candidate for the Presidency several times. In .1918 a speech delivered against conscription sent him to gaol. As soon as he was arrested it was suggested to him that he might easily win release on account of his advanced years; bnt he refused unless all other prisoners under the Espionage Act were set free at the same time. One of President Wilson's last official acts was to veto the suggestion for his release. Thus ne remains in gaol, refusing all privileges except those which, his conscience—a particularly al^H conscience—permits him to enjoy without the fueling that he is receiving special attention. And, as Mr. Karsner enthusiastically declares, "though gaoled, he speaks." This is the saddest part of the whole business. If only Debs did not speak one wonld feel for him a warm personal admiration which it is impossible to sustain after examining the speeches and letters jnst printed in book form by him secretly. Here is a typical passage about childhood :—

"What sweet emotions- the recollections of childhood inspire, .and how priceless its treasured memories in our advancing and declining years! Laughing eyes and curly hair, little brown hands and bare feet, innocent and' care-free, trusting and loving, ; tender and pure, what an elevating and satisfying influence these little gods have upon our maturer years. "Childhood! What a holy theme! Flowers they are^ with tends in them, and if on this earth man has a sacred 'charge, a holy obligation, it is to these tender buds and blossoms of humanity." One finds the same note throughout the speeches that are quoted or reprinted," Debs is always tender, sweet, sentimental; he has no ideas except the preaching of love and sympathy for the down-trodden. Here is a typical passage from the speech which led to his imprisonment :—

"How short-sighted the ruling class is. The exploiter cannot see keyondi the end of his nose. He has just teen canning enough to know what graft is, and where it is, but he has no vision. You 1 now this is a great throbbing world that speaks out in all directions. Look at Rockefeller. Every move he makes hastens the coming of his doom) Every time the capitalist class tries to hinder the cause of Socialism they, hurt themselves. -Every time they strangle a Socialist newspaper they add a thousand voices to those which are aiding Socialism. The Socialist has a great idea. An expanding philosophy. It is rereading over the'face of the^ earth. It is as useless, to resist it as it is to resist the rising sunrise. Can you see It? If you 1 cannot you are lacking in vision, in understabding. What ,'a privilege it is to serve it; I have Regretted a thousand times I can do so little {or the movement that has done so muoh "for me. The little that I am, the little that I am hoping to be; is due wholly to the Socialist movement. It gave me my ideas and my ideals, and I would not exchange one of them for. all the Hockefeller blood-stained dollars." '

The only novel thing about Debts' 1 is that he is re.ally earnest in his doctrine. It is/impossible to dismiss a man. who willingly goes to gaol at 65, and, refuses privileges there unless he has ea-n----ed thejn like other prisoners,'as if he were no better 'than any street-corner spouter, which the level, of his speeches would make him seem to be. But it is a curious revelation of American Socialist politics. Mr. Kargner, the author of this book, seems to be made in the mental'image of his master. His is a sentimental book about a,sentimental man.— Times Eiterary Supplement.